Semnan, Jan 2, IRNA

Managing Director of Sangarkar Mahdishahr Industrial Company said here Wednesday his firm is scheduled to export 75,000 sets of water air-conditioning cooler sets to Iraq this (Iranian) year (ending on March 20th, 2013).

Gholam-Reza Milani who was speaking at a press conference intended by Semnan provincial media reporters added, 'By exporting this number of coolers to Iraq we would gain about eight million US dollars of hard currency.'

The reporters present at the press conference, along with the deputy governor of Semnan in political and security affairs on Wednesday visited the production line and industrial activities of Sangarkar Mahdishahr Industrial Company.

Milani referred to his affiliated company's increasing volume of exports in recent years, adding, 'The volume of this company's exports increased from four million dollars in the year 2010 to six million in 2011.'

The managing director of the industrial company said that last year 60,000 water coolers, manufactured appropriate with the environmental atmosphere of Iraq, were exported to that country by our firm.'

Speaking about the specifications of the Sangarkar Industrial Company he said that the firm is a situated on a 15,000 square meter land, 9,000 square meters of which are roofed, adding, 'This Company has various production lines for manufacturing gas heaters, gas water heaters, and water air-conditioning coolers.'

Milani said, 'The annual production capacity of this firm is 155,000 sets of heaters, 50,000 sets of coolers, which can be increased to 80,000 if there is demand, and 25,000 sets of water heaters.'

He said that his firm has employed 140 new factory workers this year, adding that the company's manufacturing activities are still increasing.

Referring to the sanctions issue, he reiterated, 'The sanctions have created no problem in the process of this company's production activities and have even strengthened our will for boosting production and exports.'

Sangarkar managing director said that in addition to Iraq his company is exporting water cooler air conditioners to Afghanistan, Sudan and Jordan.

The deputy governor of Semnan in political and security affairs, too, in a meeting with the officials of this industrial firm appreciated their efforts aimed at improving both the quality and the quantity of their products, efforts aimed at capturing foreign markets, and creating job opportunities in the province.

Ali-Reza Khalkhali said that the number of the factory's production lines was constantly increasing by the passage of each year, referring to the positive role of the reporters in reflecting the problems of the industrial units to concerned officials.

Iran's Ambassador to Iraq, Hassan Danaie'far, said a fortnight ago that Tehran plans to export $12 billion worth of goods to Iraq by the end the current Persian calendar year (ending March 20, 2013), up from around $11 billion last year.

"Iraq's free economy has created a competitive atmosphere for exporters from all over the world. Iranian cooperatives should therefore try to present their products and services in Iraq," he said.

Iran has eight border crossing points and six border markets with Iraq, and shares it highest trade volume with the Arab nation.

Iran and Iraq have been steadily enhancing ties since the overthrow of the executed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Earlier in April, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that there is no barrier to the development of political, economic and cultural relations between Iran and its western neighbor.

© IRNA 2013